Ground stabilisation panel

ABSTRACT

A ground stabilisation panel generally comprising a base layer adapted to locate on the ground, a plurality of first walls connected to the base layer, a plurality of second walls connected to the base layer, the second walls arranged relative to the first walls for intersecting with the first walls at a plurality of intersecting junctions, and a plurality of cavities each formed by the intersecting first and second walls and corresponding of the plurality of intersecting junctions. At least one of the plurality of cavities includes a retaining element connected to intersecting of the first and second walls at the corresponding intersection junction. The retaining element is adapted to retain a fill material located within the cavity.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims the benefit of and priority to Australian PatentApplication No. 2020202478, filed on Apr. 9, 2020, the entire contentsof which are each incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is broadly directed to a ground stabilisationpanel. The disclosure also generally relates to a trafficable groundassembly including a plurality of ground stabilisation panels locatedalongside one another and filled at least in part with an appropriatefill material, such as concrete.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provideda ground stabilisation panel comprising:

a base layer adapted to be located on the ground;

a plurality of first walls connected to the base layer;

a plurality of second walls connected to the base layer, the secondwalls arranged relative to the first walls for intersecting with thefirst walls at a plurality of intersecting junctions; and

a plurality of cavities each formed by the intersecting first and secondwalls and corresponding of the plurality of intersecting junctions, atleast one of the plurality of cavities including a retaining elementconnected to intersecting of the first and second walls proximal one ofthe corresponding intersecting junctions and adapted to retain a fillmaterial located within said at least one of the cavities.

According to a second aspect of the disclosure, there is provided atrafficable ground assembly comprising:

a plurality of ground stabilisation panels adapted to located on theground alongside one another, each of said ground stabilisation panelscomprising: a base layer adapted to be located on the ground, aplurality of first walls connected to the base layer, a plurality ofsecond walls connected to the base layer, the second walls arrangedrelative to the first walls for intersecting with the first walls at aplurality of intersecting junctions, and a plurality of cavities eachformed by the intersecting first and second walls and corresponding ofthe plurality of intersecting junctions, at least one of the pluralityof cavities including a retaining element connected to intersecting ofthe first and second walls proximal one of the correspondingintersecting junctions; and

a fill material located within the plurality of cavities of each of saidground stabilisation panels to form the trafficable ground assembly, theretaining element of said at least one cavity for each of saidstabilisation panels adapted to retain the fill material within saidcavity.

In certain embodiments, substantially all of the cavities of the groundstabilisation panel include the retaining element. In certain suchembodiments, the retaining element is one of a plurality of retainingelements located at or proximal respective of the correspondingintersecting junctions. In certain such embodiments, each of theplurality of cavities includes four of the retaining elements located ator proximal respective of four of the corresponding intersectingjunctions formed by the intersecting first and second walls.

In certain embodiments, the base layer includes a plurality of aperturesaligned with respective of the plurality of intersecting junctionsformed by the intersecting first and second walls. In certain suchembodiments, each of said apertures is continuous with lateral openingsformed in each of the first and second walls at respective of theintersecting junctions. In certain such embodiments, the retainingelement for neighbouring of the plurality of cavities is formed by aretaining disc located at one of the intersecting junctions andextending laterally through the lateral openings of the intersectingfirst and second walls into neighbouring of said cavities.

In certain embodiments, the first walls are arranged parallel to oneanother, and the second walls are also arranged parallel to one another.In certain such embodiments, the parallel first walls and the parallelsecond walls intersect one another at a predetermined angle to form theplurality of cavities in a grid, each of said cavities beingdiamond-shaped.

In certain embodiments, neighbouring of the plurality of groundstabilisation panels are interconnected with one another. In certainsuch embodiments, each of said interconnected panels are ofsubstantially the same perimeter shape wherein the plurality of saidpanels are interconnected in a modular arrangement.

In certain embodiments, the fill material is concrete or anothercementitious material.

In certain embodiments, the trafficable ground assembly is suitable forvehicles.

In certain embodiments, the ground stabilisation panel is constructed ofa plastics material, such as recycled polypropylene.

Additional features are described in, and will be apparent from thefollowing Detailed Description and the Figures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order to achieve a better understanding of the nature of the presentdisclosure an illustrated embodiment of a ground stabilisation panelwill now be described, by way of example only, with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an upper perspective view of one embodiment of a groundstabilisation panel according to a first aspect of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged lower perspective view of part of the groundstabilisation panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged upper perspective view taken from part of theground stabilisation panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged upper perspective view shown partly cut away ofpart of the ground stabilisation panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the ground stabilisation panel of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken in elevation from the groundstabilisation panel of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a corresponding sectional view of the ground stabilisationpanel of FIG. 5, in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1, there is a ground stabilisation panel 10 of oneembodiment of a first aspect of the disclosure. It will be understoodthat according to a second aspect of the disclosure the groundstabilisation panel 10 is one of a plurality of panels of substantiallythe same configuration. The plurality of ground stabilisation panels,such as 10, are located on the ground alongside one another and at leastin part filled with a fill material to form a trafficable groundassembly according to the second aspect of the disclosure.

As best seen in the enlarged views of FIGS. 2 to 4, the groundstabilisation panel 10 of this embodiment generally comprises:

-   -   a) a base layer 12 adapted to be located on the ground (not        shown);    -   b) a plurality of first walls, such as 14 a to 14 f connected to        the base layer 12;    -   c) a plurality of second walls, such as 16 a to 16 d, connected        to the base layer 12, the second walls, such as 16 a and 16 b,        arranged relative to the first walls, such as 14 a and 14 b, for        intersecting with the first walls 14 a and 14 b at a plurality        of intersecting junctions, such as 18 aa, 18 ab, 18 bb and 18        ba;    -   d) a plurality of cavities, such as 20 aa, each formed by the        intersecting first and second walls 14 a/b and 16 a/b and        corresponding of the plurality of intersecting junctions 18        aa/ab/bb/ba.

It should be appreciated that at least one of the plurality of cavities,such as 20 ab, includes a retaining element, such as 22 bb, connected tointersecting of the first and second walls 14 b and 16 b at thecorresponding intersection junction 18 bb. The retaining element 22 bbis adapted to retain a fill material (not shown) located within thecavity 20 ab.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the base layer 12 of this embodiment includes aplurality of apertures, such as 24 ab and 24 bb, aligned with respectiveof the plurality of intersecting junctions 18 ab and 18 bb. Each of theapertures, such as 24 bb, is formed continuous with lateral openings,such as 26 ab and 26 bb, formed in each of the first and second wallsuch as 14 b and 16 b at the corresponding intersecting junction, suchas 18 bb. In this example the retaining element, such as 22 bb, forneighboring of the plurality of cavities 20 aa/ab/ba/bb is formed by aretaining disc located at the intersecting junction 18 bb. The retainingdisc 22 bb extends laterally through the lateral openings 26 ab/bb ofthe intersecting first and second walls 14 b and 16 b into neighbouringof the cavities 20 aa/ab.

As best seen in the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 3, all of the cavities,such as 20 ba, include at least one of the retaining discs such as 22bb. For the majority of the cavities such as 20 ba the retaining disc 22bb is one of four retaining discs 22 ba/bb/ca/cb located at respectiveof the four corresponding intersecting junctions 18 ba/bb/ca/cb.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the first walls, such as 14 a to 14 f, arearranged parallel to one another, and the second walls, such as 16 a to16 f, are also arranged parallel to one another. The parallel firstwalls, such as 14 b, intersect the parallel second walls, such as 16 b,at a predetermined angle of around 60 degrees to form the plurality ofcavities, such as 20 aa/ab/ba/bb, in a grid arrangement. In this exampleeach of the cavities, such as 20 bb, is diamond-shaped.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 5, each of the plurality of groundstabilisation panels such as 10 includes a plurality of lockingelements, such as 30 a to 30 k, positioned alongside one perimeter sideof the panel 10, and a plurality of other locking elements 32 a to 32 ilocated alongside an adjacent perimeter side of said panel 10. Thestabilisation panels, such as 10, also each include a plurality ofengagement slots, such as 34 a to 34 k, and other engagement slots 36 ato 36 i located along adjacent of the other perimeter sides of the panel10. It will be understood that neighbouring of the ground stabilisationpanels, such as 10, are interconnected with one another by lockingengagement of the locking elements, such as 30 a, of one of thestabilisation panels with a neighbouring and corresponding engagementslot of the neighbouring stabilisation panel (not shown). The pluralityof panels, such as 10, are thus interconnected with one another in amodular arrangement.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views taken from the ground stabilisationpanel of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 shows the ground stabilisation panel 10 of thepreceding embodiment, in use. In this example, the ground stabilisationpanel 10 locates on the ground 40 and is filled with a fill material 42in the form of concrete or another cementitious material. The concretefill 42 will typically be poured across the stabilisation panel 10 andscreed to an upper surface of the panel 10. Upper edges of theintersecting first and second walls, such as 14 a to 14 f, and 16 a to14 d provide a convenient level along which screeding is effected. Asseen in FIG. 7, the concrete fill 42 within each of the plurality ofneighbouring cavities, such as 20 ab and 20 ba, locates underneath theretaining discs, such as 22 bb and 22 ca. This in combination with theconcrete fill 42 which interconnects the neighbouring cavities, such as20 ab and 20 ba, via the lateral openings 26 ab and 26 ba ensures theconcrete fill 42 is retained within said cavities, such as 20 ab and 20ba. It has been found that under the influence of traffic, particularlyvehicles, the retaining discs, such as 22 bb or other retainingelements, are effective in minimizing the likelihood of the concretefill 42 breaking clear of and being ejected from one or more of thecavities, such as 20 ab.

Now that certain embodiments of the ground stabilisation panel has beendescribed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that thepresent disclosure has at least the following advantages:

-   -   1. the ground stabilisation panel is particularly suited to        filling with an appropriate fill material, such as concrete        wherein it is trafficable;    -   2. the ground stabilisation panel in combination with the fill        material provides a trafficable ground assembly where the        stabilisation panel is akin to and functions in a similar manner        to reinforcing mesh or bar imbedded in concrete;    -   3. the ground stabilisation panel includes retaining elements        which act to prevent fill material lifting from the        corresponding cavity wherein the fill material is retained        within the cavity; and    -   4. the ground stabilisation panel may include lateral openings        at intersecting junctions of intersecting walls wherein the        lateral openings promote flow and continuity of concrete with        neighbouring cavities of the ground stabilisation panel.

It should be appreciated that those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the disclosure as described herein is susceptible to variations andmodifications other than those specifically described. For example, thewalls may be configured in a different arrangement to the embodimentwherein the cavities vary from the described diamond-shaped cavity. Theretaining elements may depart from the disc-shaped elements of theillustrated embodiment and take the form of ribs or gussets extendingacross one or more of the cavities. The ground stabilisation panels neednot be of a modular construction and adjacent stabilisation panel may beinterconnected by arrangements which depart from the example embodimentwhere for example clips or other couplings separate from the panels arearranged to lock the panels alongside one another. All such variationsand modifications are to be considered within the scope of the presentdisclosure the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoingdescription.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A ground stabilisation panel comprising: abase layer adapted to be located on the ground; a plurality of firstwalls connected to the base layer; a plurality of second walls connectedto the base layer, the second walls arranged relative to the first wallsfor intersecting with the first walls at a plurality of intersectingjunctions; and a plurality of cavities each formed by the intersectingfirst and second walls and corresponding of the plurality ofintersecting junctions, at least one of the plurality of cavitiesincluding a retaining element connected to intersecting of the first andsecond walls proximal one of the corresponding intersecting junctionsand adapted to retain a fill material located within said at least oneof the cavities.
 2. The ground stabilisation panel of claim 1, whereinsubstantially all of the cavities of the ground stabilisation panelinclude the retaining element.
 3. The ground stabilisation panel ofclaim 2, wherein the retaining element is one of a plurality ofretaining elements located at or proximal respective of thecorresponding intersecting junctions.
 4. The ground stabilisation panelof claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of cavities includes four ofthe retaining elements located at or proximal respective of four of thecorresponding intersecting junctions formed by the intersecting firstand second walls.
 5. The ground stabilisation panel of claim 1, whereinthe base layer defines a plurality of apertures aligned with respectiveof the plurality of intersecting junctions formed by the intersectingfirst and second walls.
 6. The ground stabilisation panel of claim 5,wherein each of said apertures is continuous with lateral openingsformed in each of the first and second walls at respective of theintersecting junctions.
 7. The ground stabilisation panel of claim 6,wherein the retaining element for neighbouring of the plurality ofcavities is formed by a retaining disc located at one of theintersecting junctions and extending laterally through the lateralopenings of the intersecting first and second walls into neighbouring ofsaid cavities.
 8. The ground stabilisation panel of claim 1, wherein thefirst walls are arranged parallel to one another, and the second wallsare also arranged parallel to one another.
 9. The ground stabilisationpanel of claim 8, wherein the parallel first walls and the parallelsecond walls intersect one another at a predetermined angle to form theplurality of cavities in a grid, each of said cavities beingdiamond-shaped.
 10. A trafficable ground assembly comprising: aplurality of ground stabilisation panels adapted to located on theground alongside one another, each of said ground stabilisation panelscomprising: a base layer adapted to be located on the ground, aplurality of first walls connected to the base layer, a plurality ofsecond walls connected to the base layer, the second walls arrangedrelative to the first walls for intersecting with the first walls at aplurality of intersecting junctions, and a plurality of cavities eachformed by the intersecting first and second walls and corresponding ofthe plurality of intersecting junctions, at least one of the pluralityof cavities including a retaining element connected to intersecting ofthe first and second walls proximal one of the correspondingintersecting junctions; a fill material located within the plurality ofcavities of each of said ground stabilisation panels to form thetrafficable ground assembly, the retaining element of said at least onecavity for each of said stabilisation panels adapted to retain the fillmaterial within said cavity.
 11. The trafficable ground assembly ofclaim 10, wherein neighbouring of the plurality of ground stabilisationpanels are interconnected with one another.
 12. The trafficable groundassembly of claim 11, wherein each of said interconnected panels are ofsubstantially the same perimeter shape wherein the plurality of saidpanels are interconnected in a modular arrangement.
 13. The trafficableground assembly of claim 10, wherein the fill material is at least oneof concrete and another cementitious material.
 14. The trafficableground assembly of claim 10, wherein the trafficable ground assembly issuitable for vehicles.